Coriolis Launches New Editions of Best-Selling Exam Crams.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 1999--The Coriolis Group, leading publishers in the Information Technology (IT) certification and training field, Tuesday launched new, reengineered, Adaptive Testing Editions of their best-selling Exam Cram certification study guides, designed to focus on Microsoft's new adaptive testing technique, where test questions are customized to a test-taker's experience.

Microsoft has indicated that all tests will be converted to adaptive versions in the first quarter of 1999. Coriolis is the first major publisher and training company to offer a complete adaptive-based training solution for the self-study market.

The MCSE Core Four Exam Cram Pack, Adaptive Testing Edition, will be available in early March. The pack includes: NT Server 4 Exam Cram Adaptive Testing Edition; NT Server 4 in the Enterprise Exam Cram, Adaptive Testing Edition; NT Workstation 4 Exam Cram, Adaptive Testing Edition; and Networking Essentials Exam Cram, Adaptive Testing Edition.

These interactive study guides, which cover the following Microsoft certification exams 70-067, 70-068, 70-073, and 70-058, may be purchased individually or in the Core Four Pack. They will be distributed widely across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, and Asia, with major promotions occurring in retail bookstore and software outlets as well as online.

"Our new Exam Cram Adaptive Editions are 100 percent focused on helping professionals study for and pass rigorous adaptive exams," said Keith Weiskamp, chief executive officer and president of The Coriolis Group.

"With over 1.5 million of our certification study guides in print, the Exam Cram brand and study method continues to be the number one certification self-study training product around the world. We've now completely reengineered these best-selling guides to strengthen the Exam Cram brand's leadership position."

The new Core Four Exam Cram Pack features a number of new study aids, including special strategies for the adaptive tests, unique Cram Fitness Assessments which analyze a reader's background to suggest options for exam preparation, and real-world tips on studying for certification exams.

Also included is a custom CD-ROM with eight adaptive MCSE practice tests that enable students to rehearse a Microsoft adaptive test-taking experience.

"After extensive market and reader research, we developed a comprehensive plan to introduce new editions of the guides," said Ed Tittel, co-author of the MCSE Core Four and Series Editor for the Exam Cram series. "What our readers want most are more extensive practice exams and analysis. These new Core Four guides deliver."

In addition, Coriolis has an extensive online study system. Study guide purchasers will be provided a password to gain access to an additional adaptive exam on a special Web site. The site also features extensive resources on certification and exam preparation, including a bimonthly newsletter and other updates on certification exams and programs.

"The new features we've added to our Web site fit with our mission of making Coriolis the Certification and Training Destination," said Weiskamp. "We'll be developing a number of new products and services over the next six months to further enhance the customer service aspect of our certification and training products."

The Exam Cram Adaptive Testing Editions focus on the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification program, which grew over 250 percent last year. Readers interested in MCSE topics will only increase. Every year more than 1 million IT professionals and 2 million business professionals decide to pursue training on Microsoft technology.

Currently, the Exam Cram guides have been licensed to be published in more than a dozen languages, including German, French, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Dutch.

The Coriolis Group, LLC, (www.coriolis.com), is a significant player in the $1+ billion certification and training market with its Exam Cram product lines as well as a successful publisher of technical books and the bimonthly magazine Visual Developer.

Coriolis products focus on three growing markets: technical professionals in need of official certification training (Microsoft, Oracle, A+, Cisco, Java, Novell, etc.); professional software, networking and database developers, and system administrators; and Internet and Web professionals. Products consist of training guides, CD-ROM based training software, and instructor-led courses.

The Coriolis Group, LLC is located at 14455 North Hayden Rd., Suite 220, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. For more information or interviews, contact Michelle Claire, Public Relations Coordinator, at 602/483-0192, ext. 206, fax [phone], or email: [e-mail].